"Peter Pan" by J.M. Barrie.

Adapted as a pantomime by Tom Whalley.

Ravenshead Theatre Group.

Ravenshead Village Hall.

Now this is what "Peter Pan" as a pantomime really should be like!

With this production, you get the full story of Peter Pan, from the first time he is spotted in the Darling Children's bedroom where he loses his shadow, spotted on stage sneaking into the toy box, all through the highlights of J.M. Barrie's wonderful book, but with that fun, split level pantomime comedy feeling.

Helen Berry plays Peter with the same energy as a child who has been drinking full-fat fizzy drinks for a week. What I noticed about this particular Peter was the whole look, even down to the otherworldly ears.

Tinkerbell is played by Lucy Johnson. Wonderfully naughty with the green eye firmly in place, thinking that Wendy is replacing this fanciful fairy's place beside Peter.

Mr Darling is played by Rob Hurst. I've seen some Mr Darling's played quite nastily, which he is because his alter ego is Hook, but there was a bumbling impatience in Rob's version; the nastiest comments being when he said that Wendy was getting too old to be sleeping in the nursery with John and Michael.

As Captain Hook, Rob really brings the panto villain to life, but is a comical camp way and Hook's normal evil mwah hah hah hah laugh is almost a congratulatory chuckle to himself. Watch the Captain's hook for an ongoing joke, that possibly only the adults will spot, but is started by John Darling at the start.

Mrs Darling, also dubbed Dame Darling is played by Daniel Andrews. This is Daniel's first time donning the Dame outfit on stage, but he is made for a character like this, and actually makes quite a good-looking woman. 

Daniel also doubles the Dame factor by playing Lady Starkey, who has never been the same since the loss of her late husband Richard, which is another nod to the adults who can drum up a connection! This Lady has not been the same since she lost Dick, and is on the lookout for a replacement from the audience. I can't be sure just how much is ad-libbed by Daniel, but everything regarding the audience participation just flowed perfectly with a comic ease. There's a lot of sauciness, as to be expected from these characters, mainly pitched just above the kids' heads, but there's also a lot of jokes that the kids got with ease.

Wendy Darling is played by Hazell O'Connell, John Darling is played by Eddie Gray and Philippa Adamson plays Michael Darling; a fun trio where each actor brings out the traditional character of the three Darling children from the book. This is where the real traditional feel of the story really shines through.

Playing Nana The Dog, Crocodile as well as a Gorilla is Ann-Marie Butler. In most pantomimes there is a scene where three of the characters are pursued by a ghost; this is a bit different, and I liked the change with the gorilla scares them. Ann-Marie is not only on stage but also uses the central aisle to enter as the crocodile, and you wouldn't recognise Ann-Marie from Nana's costume.

Playing Smee is Catherine Petrova, and what a performance Catherine puts on. This production is absolutely rammed with puns, and let's face it, who doesn't love a good pun? Even at the end where Smee gets her own song in "This Is Me" from "The Greatest Showman", there's a clever merging of the last two words in the title to create "This Is Smee". A wonderfully energised role who really got the audience participating vocally every time she entered the stage.

Peter Pan's Lost Boys are played by Duncan Dearman (Slightly), Adam Hague (Tootles), Mandy Buckley (Curly) and Helen Brailsford and Adam Saunders (The Twins). These Lost Boys may have fallen out of their prams and lost their way, but this crew were certainly on target with the energy and comedy.

Tiger Lily, who had been captured by Hook and his clan, is played by the lovely Rojin Thornley.

John Birch plays Chief Big Willie, and there's a lovely tongue in cheek scene where Chief Big Willie explains his family roots and their names and why they were named the way they were. And lots of the kids also had a chuckle at that particular joke!

The three mermaids were played by Holly Beardsmore (Ariel), Freya O'Connell (Bold) and Mia Thompson (Persil). Another lovely scene, complete with even more puns, and we see and hear some more very clever writing with a connection to a well known low price supermarket and The Little Mermaid - I'll leave you to work that one out!

And then there's the chorus of Pirates and Neverlanders who are made up of Holly Beardsmore, Daisy Dearman, Evie Dearman, Emily Evans, Sorrell Harrison, Daisy King, Ethan Lee, Abbey Moran, Lilli Napthine, Polly Napthine, Caitlin O'Connell, Freya O'Connell, Scarlet Sarkar, Mia Thompson and Emilia Thorley.

From the mains to the chorus there is not one dodgy performance to be seen in this feast of fantasticness.

With a cast this size the stage management is spot on as well, thanks to Ann-Marie Butler and her crew of Sue Bishton, James Disney, John Birch and Andy Cook.

The sound for this production also gets a special mention because there are lots and lots of little soundbites that all need to be played at just the right time and Sarah Tryner hit every cue.

Iain Walton was on light duty, making sure that everyone who stood in the spotlight was actually in the spotlight. Another top job by Iain.

Loved the set design which was mainly made up of a giant map of Neverland and designed by Andy Cook.

The costumes for every single person on that stage were exceptional and I couldn't possibly single out one for recognition over the other, and all sourced and made by Mandy Buckley and the cast. What a fantastic job which really brought this eye popping production to life.

This could possibly be one of my favourite pantomimes of 2024/2025, mainly due to the fun characterisation and the brilliant script. As with all pantos, there were swipes taken at surrounding areas, all in jest of course, but this has to be one of the best panto scripts of this festive period, as I said earlier, absolutely rammed with jokes and puns reaching every level from childish fart gags to naughty double entendres relating to a certain ship and cruise line based in Southampton.

There is such a lot in this show for the eyes and ears, and all crammed into two hours of fun and entertainment, and so worthy of the ticket price.

"Peter Pan" is at Ravenshead Village Hall until Sunday 26 January, but tickets are in demand, so treat yourself and the family for some Sunday shenanigans.